Montclair State University

What Montclair State University does

Montclair State University is a public state university headquartered on a 252-acre campus in Montclair, New Jersey, 12 miles from New York City. Founded in 1908, it serves approximately 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students through more than 300 doctoral, master's, and baccalaureate programs across 13 colleges and schools, including the College of Communication and Media, the College for Education and Engaged Learning, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Montclair Online. The university has been recognized as the #1 public institution in New Jersey and top 30 public nationally in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 Best Colleges rankings, and ranks #9 nationally for social mobility (U.S. News & World Report).

The university operates an integrated media ecosystem anchored by the College of Communication and Media, which includes professional broadcast studios, film stages, control rooms, a multimedia newsroom, and engineering infrastructure. This stack supports WMSC radio, The Montclarion newspaper, Hawk Communications agency, Red Hawk Sports Network, Hawk+ streaming, the News Lab, and a social media listening center. Effective July 1, 2026, Montclair assumed operational control of NJ PBS, New Jersey's four FCC-licensed public television stations (WNJS, WNJN, WNJT, WNJB), under a five-year contract with two five-year extensions, providing statewide broadcast and digital distribution. The Center for Cooperative Media, housed within the College, maintains relationships with 300+ New Jersey news organizations, and the NJ Civic Information Consortium has granted over $10M to local journalism in the past five years.

The university's revenue model combines tuition, state appropriations, grants, and donations. NJ resident undergraduate tuition is $7,395 per semester; in-person master's programs are priced at $858 per credit; financial aid, tuition waivers, and online degree options (Montclair Online) support enrollment. Distribution channels include direct undergraduate/graduate admissions, community-college 2+2 transfer partnerships, the Transfer Credit Equivalent Database (~18,000 equivalencies), online programs, and now NJ PBS public broadcasting. The university has integrated Bloomfield College as a satellite campus offering Nursing and Game Design, and is expanding internationally via a partnership with Busan National University of Education in South Korea.

Name

Montclair State University

Legal name

Montclair State University

Website

https://montclair.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Montclair State University is a public research university in New Jersey serving 23,000 students across 300+ programs and 13 colleges. It operates an integrated media ecosystem and assumed control of NJ PBS, the state's four FCC-licensed public television stations, effective July 1, 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Nonprofit Universities (EDAHALAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College-licensed Public Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABADAD), College & University Sports Networks (Conference/School-Owned) (MPABAJAD), University/Educational Local Stations (College Radio, Campus TV) (MPABACAH), Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Public university programs
• Online degree programs
• Teacher preparation programs
• Public broadcasting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Montclair

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and fees: Primary revenue from tuition payments from undergraduate and graduate students. New Jersey residents pay $7,395 per semester for full-time bachelor's programs. In-person master's degrees are competitively priced at $858 per credit.
2. State appropriations and public funding: Public university receives state funding including support for public broadcasting operations with $1.2 million annually of in-kind contributions from the University
3. Grants and sponsored programs: Research funding and grants including nearly $10M in grants awarded over the last decade through the Center for Cooperative Media

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Montclair State University is a public state university offering more than 300 doctoral, master's, and baccalaureate programs across 13 colleges and schools to approximately 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It delivers in-person and online degrees, operates New Jersey's public television stations (NJ PBS) through its College of Communication and Media, and runs ancillary programs including early childhood education, language labs, and journalism support services.

Product overview

Montclair State University offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services spanning undergraduate and graduate academic programs across 13 colleges and schools, serving approximately 23,000 students. The institution operates as a multi-product educational enterprise featuring: (1) Montclair Online for flexible online degree programs; (2) NJ PBS public broadcasting operations managed by the College of Communication and Media with its world-class production facilities; (3) the Transfer Credit Equivalent Database supporting transfer student pathways; (4) the Ben Samuels Children's Center for early childhood education; (5) the SPARK for German Lab language program; (6) the Center for Cooperative Media supporting local journalism; and (7) the 4+1 combined BA/MAT teacher preparation program. The university leverages extensive media infrastructure including broadcast studios, radio (WMSC), newspaper (The Montclarion), Hawk Communications agency, Red Hawk Sports Network, Hawk+ streaming platform, News Lab, and a social media listening center. The institution's academic offerings include more than 300 doctoral, master's, and baccalaureate programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bloomfield College of Montclair State University: An institution under Montclair State offering smaller classes and programs including Nursing (pre-licensure) and Game Design
• College of Communication and Media (CCOM)
• Center for Cooperative Media
• NJ Civic Information Consortium
• Ben Samuels Children's Center
• Montclair Online
• College for Education and Engaged Learning (CEEL)
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS)

Products and services

• Montclair Online Flexible online degree programs for working professionals including bachelor's degree completion and master's programs in business, education, and other fields, ranked #1 in NJ and #24 nationally among America's Top Online Colleges by Newsweek.
• NJ PBS Public Television Operations Management and programming operations for New Jersey's four FCC-licensed public television stations, providing daily newscasts, public affairs programming, sports coverage, and digital content to New Jersey residents.
• Center for Cooperative Media Housed within the College of Communication and Media, this center works to grow and strengthen local journalism through collaboration, coaching, training, and grants, and administers the NJ Civic Information Consortium.
• Bachelor's Degree Completion Program Program designed for students with some college credits seeking a pathway to complete a bachelor's degree, supporting adult learners and career changers through flexible course delivery.
• 4+1 Combined BA/MAT Teacher Preparation Program Combined bachelor's and master's in teaching program allowing students to earn dual certifications in elementary education (K-6) and teacher of students with disabilities in five years; 87% of graduates secured positions in NJ public schools.
• Ben Samuels Children's Center Model of inclusive early care and education for children from birth through five years, including the Jeffrey Dworkin Early Intervention Program for children with special developmental needs.
• SPARK for German Lab After-school language program run by Montclair State student volunteers teaching elementary school children German, part of national SPARK Labs network sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German and the Goethe-Institut.
• Transfer Credit Equivalent Database Database tool that allows prospective transfer students to see how their previous coursework may apply toward a Montclair degree before applying, featuring nearly 18,000 course equivalencies from schools nationwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of teacher certification graduates secured positions in NJ public schools within one year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Bergen Community CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026Transfer pathway partnership where students complete associate degree at Bergen before transferring to Montclair. Student success story demonstrates smooth credit transfer process with student now rising senior in advertising major.
• NJTransfercoreTechnology or Integration · 18 June 2026Statewide planning tool for community college transfers to New Jersey four-year institutions, complementing Montclair's own Transfer Credit Equivalent Database for transfer planning.
• New Jersey Department of EducationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026Montclair's College for Education and Engaged Learning partners with NJDOE for teacher preparation. Three Montclair student teachers were honored among NJ's best at the NJ Distinguished Clinical Intern Awards ceremony hosted by Montclair, with NJ Commissioner of Education Lily Laux presenting awards.
• New Jersey Public Broadcasting AuthorityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Montclair State University selected as new programming and management operator of New Jersey's four FCC-licensed public television stations (WNJS, WNJN, WNJT, WNJB) branded as NJ PBS. The five-year contract with two five-year extensions begins July 1, 2026, with Montclair providing broadcast-ready facilities, statewide journalism network, and $1.2 million annually in in-kind contributions including studio access, engineering, IT, HR, finance, legal, and facilities management.
• New Jersey Athletic ConferencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Montclair's NJ PBS will include sports coverage through formal partnership with the New Jersey Athletic Conference, expanding sports programming content across New Jersey's public media platform.
• Center for Cooperative MediaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026The Center for Cooperative Media, housed within Montclair's College of Communication and Media, will build the backbone of NJ PBS's statewide journalism model. The Center's longstanding relationships with hundreds of New Jersey news organizations provide NJ PBS with an existing statewide journalism ecosystem for collaborative reporting and community-informed storytelling.
• NJ Civic Information ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026The NJ Civic Information Consortium, housed within the Center for Cooperative Media, is the largest funder of media and journalism in New Jersey, granting more than $10M over the last five years to support independent local media, journalism and training initiatives.
• New Jersey Colleges and UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Montclair's NJ PBS will include collaborative agreements with a range of New Jersey colleges and universities as well as civic, arts, and news organizations, ensuring network content reflects the diversity and talents of New Jersey's residents and communities.
• Governor Mikie SherrillflagshipOthers · 3 June 2026Governor Sherrill's commitment to transparency makes public broadcasting an integral part of New Jersey's media landscape, with her administration selecting Montclair to operate NJ PBS.
• Montclair Art MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 March 2026Collaboration invites students to design public posters promoting mental health awareness, with selected works exhibited at both institutions from May 2 through May 31, 2026. Top three designs published in The Normal Review with $100 cash prize.
• Busan National University of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2025The College for Education and Engaged Learning hosted three clinical interns from Busan National University of Education in South Korea, marking the first visit in a long-term partnership. Institutions are planning reciprocal summer programs, potential transfer agreements for South Korean students to pursue master's degrees in education at Montclair, and hiring pathways to address New Jersey's teacher shortage.
• Montclair State University Network for Educational RenewalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2025Partnership with three partner school districts within the Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal for clinical observation and student teaching experiences, including hosting international clinical interns from South Korea.
• Goethe-InstitutcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Montclair's SPARK for German Lab operates as part of national SPARK Labs network sponsored by American Association of Teachers of German and Goethe-Institut. There are currently over 120 SPARK Labs nationally, with Montclair lab having support from Goethe-Institut to teach hundreds of children and produce Fulbright winners.
• American Association of Teachers of German (AATG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Montclair's SPARK for German Lab operates with support from AATG as part of national SPARK Labs network. The program combines STEM topics with language learning, songs, movement games, crafts, and hands-on activities for elementary school children.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rowan University: New Jersey public university with a similar mix of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs, including a College of Communication and Creative Arts. Competes for the same NJ-resident transfer students and state appropriations.
• Ramapo College of New Jersey: Public NJ liberal arts and professional college serving a comparable population of in-state undergraduates, with overlapping teacher preparation and communication programs.
• Kean University: Public NJ comprehensive university with similar program breadth including communication, education, and business. Competes for the same transfer and adult learner populations in northern New Jersey.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT): Public research university in Newark, NJ, serving a comparable mix of NJ-resident undergraduates and graduate students. Competes directly with Montclair in STEM, engineering, and online professional programs and draws from the same state funding pool.
• William Paterson University of New Jersey: Public NJ comprehensive university with overlapping undergraduate, graduate, and teacher-preparation programs. Closely comparable in size, mission, and dependence on NJ-resident enrollment and state funding.
• Rutgers University: New Jersey's flagship public university and the state's largest higher-education institution. Most directly comparable to Montclair as a public, R-classified NJ university competing for the same in-state student pool, state appropriations, and employer-recognition rankings.

Regional players

• CUNY (City University of New York): Large urban public university system in neighboring New York City with broad undergraduate and graduate programming and significant teacher preparation. Comparable in mission of affordable, accessible public higher education with NYC metro labor-market proximity.
• Temple University: Large public research university in Philadelphia serving the broader Northeast corridor. Comparable in scale, R2 designation, urban-adjacent location, and program breadth including communication and education.
• State University of New York (SUNY): Large public university system serving neighboring New York state. Comparable in public funding model and program breadth, with similar teacher preparation and online degree programs that compete for Northeast students.

Broad incumbents

• WNET (New York Public Media): Major PBS operator in the adjacent New York City market. Comparable to Montclair's NJ PBS operation in public broadcasting model, FCC-licensed station management, and statewide civic journalism mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/montclairstateu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@montclairstateu
• Facebookfacebook.com/66189885427
• Instagraminstagram.com/montclairstateu
• TikToktiktok.com/@montclairstateu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/montclair-state-university

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors5 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Montclair State University